Forbes Features Brad D. Smith’s Efforts to Level the Playing Field in West Virginia
11/03/2023
Brad D. Smith recently sat down with Forbes to discuss his journey from West Virginia native to Silicon Valley executive, and how his experiences ultimately led him back to the Mountain State to serve as the president of Marshall University. In both of his career tracks — from business executive to academic leader — Brad has focused on servant leadership as a means of uplifting the communities he serves. As CEO of Intuit, this meant transforming the company into one that was employee-centric. Now back in West Virginia, he continues to utilize servant leadership to develop programs that support the state’s people and bolster Appalachia’s future.
LEARN MOREInaugural Women Warriors Summit Empowers Hundreds
10/18/2023
Alys Smith’s Women Warriors Summit — which was sponsored by her and her husband Brad D. Smith’s Wing 2 Wing Foundation — drew over 700 attendees at the Mountain Health Arena in Huntington, WV to connect, learn and empower one another through workshops and presentations by guest speakers. Following a theme of “courageous conversations,” exercises and panels focused on methods and approaches to starting a dialogue when faced with challenging situations in the workplace, with friends and at home. Keynote speaker Nicole Kidman shared anecdotes of her own experiences advocating for other women and for herself throughout her career.
LEARN MOREAmazon Appoints Brad D. Smith to Its Board of Directors
09/29/2023
On September 13, 2023, online retailer Amazon announced its appointment of Brad D. Smith to its board of directors. Brad joins the board as a member of the Audit Committee and his appointment marks him as the board’s twelfth member. In the announcements, Brad is noted for his diverse and extensive experiences as an executive leader.
LEARN MOREUniversity Presidents Brad D. Smith and Gordon Gee Announce First Ascent Program for Graduates
09/27/2023
The 2023 West Virginia Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Business Summit featured the announcement of First Ascent — a program developed through Ascend West Virginia — by Brad D. Smith and Gordon Gee. As the presidents of Marshall University and West Virginia University, respectively, Brad and Gordon understand the need to retain the talent coming out of local universities and, in turn, the positive impact these graduates can have on the state’s future.
LEARN MOREBrad D. Smith Featured as Panelist on Mountaineer Media’s Almost Heaven Classic Keynote Panel
07/06/2023
Brad D. Smith participated in a panel of prominent West Virginia leaders to discuss the state’s future and prospective growth during the Almost Heaven Classic Keynote Panel, hosted by Mountaineer Media — a blog, podcast and online store dedicated to sharing the West Virginia experience. During the discussion, Brad highlighted West Virginia’s historic successes as a pioneer in numerous fields and its people’s characteristic grit and grace. He connected these sentiments to initiatives supporting the push for Appalachia’s economic development.
LEARN MORESecond Annual Community Cares Week Makes an Impact at Marshall University
06/12/2023
Created by President Brad D. Smith in 2022, Community Cares Week at Marshall University is a four-day event that brings together students, staff and Huntington locals to assist the university in tackling its “To Do List items.” Marshall recently celebrated the event’s second iteration, proudly more than doubling the volunteer attendance of the inaugural year with 726 people coming together to complete a variety of projects to improve and beautify the campus.
LEARN MOREWing 2 Wing Foundation & Brad D. Smith Support Legal Startup Rhetoric
05/09/2023
The Wing 2 Wing Foundation has added Rhetoric to its portfolio of supported ventures and startups. Rhetoric uses innovative technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to assist litigators in court proceedings by producing advanced, actionable insights on judges, courts and legal briefings. Founded by Luke Yingling of Ona, West Virginia, Brad D. Smith and Wing 2 Wing are proud to support a fellow Mountain State native.
LEARN MOREPresident Brad D. Smith Begins Marshall For All High School Tour
04/11/2023
In March, Brad D. Smith kicked off Marshall University’s “Marshall For All” high school tour in Wayne County, West Virginia, the county that Brad himself hails from. The tour will take Brad to high schools all across West Virginia and beyond to recognize future Marshall students and celebrate their choice to pursue higher education through the signing of academic letters of intent. Wayne High School President Sara Stapleton praised the initiative and how it gives future Marshall students “an opportunity to be recognized individually with the president and to recognize them for their efforts.” The next stop of the tour will be in Raleigh County.
LEARN MORE“My Last Name” Podcast Features Brad D. Smith
03/27/2023
Brad D. Smith joined Robert Slagel on the “My Last Name” podcast to discuss what good leadership looks like, the value in celebrating your heritage, the importance of authenticity and the grit of Appalachia’s people. “My Last Name” focuses on the successes of Appalachians and tells the stories of their accomplishments. Listen to the episode by clicking the link below.
LEARN MOREBrad D. Smith Featured on Daily304
02/23/2023
Brad D. Smith was recently featured on a segment of the daily304’s YouTube channel called Innovators and Entrepreneurs, a bi-weekly series that shares news and opportunities pertaining to West Virginia. Brad sat down with host Andy Malinoski to discuss the recent progress and success of Ascend West Virginia and the Wing 2 Wing Foundation. Throughout the segment, Brad expanded on Ascend WV’s growth thus far and the confidence he has in its future.
LEARN MOREBrad D. Smith Elected to Humana Board of Directors
01/31/2023 - Staff
In September 2022, Humana announced that Brad D. Smith was elected to the company’s Board of Directors. Brad’s impressive tenure as an executive leader, and his more recent role as President of Marshall University, bring a unique perspective to the Humana Board. Humana Chairman of the Board, Kurt J. Hilzinger, stated, “Brad’s deep operating experience and ability to innovate across all organizational layers, while also being mission and customer driven, will be vital as Humana continues to grow its core Medicare Advantage business, drive operational efficiencies, and mature and further integrate its healthcare services offerings.” Read more about Brad joining the Humana Board by clicking the link below.
LEARN MOREThe Investiture of Brad D. Smith as the 38th President of Marshall University
09/16/2022 - Marshall University News
Brad D. Smith was invested as Marshall University’s 38th president during a ceremony on September 16, 2022. Although he initially came into the role in January, the investiture marked the official beginning of his presidency and the continuation of Brad’s commitment to Marshall. Keeping with a theme of “time,” Brad discussed his vision for the future of the university, stating: “The time to act is now. Change can happen to us, change can happen through us. It is our choice and we have chosen not to waste this time. In fact, Marshall is prepared to lead the way. We’ve been busy working across the campus to chart the course for the next chapter of great for Marshall University and play our part in the state of West Virginia.” Born in Kenova, West Virginia, Brad is a proud advocate for the betterment of the Mountain State. His presidency will focus on expanding the definition of education and inspiring the desire to learn among prospective students. Watch a video of the ceremony by clicking the link below.
LEARN MOREBrad D. Smith Speaks With Protocol on His Shift From Tech to Higher Education
08/30/2022
In a recent interview with the news website Protocol, Brad D. Smith discusses his transition from Silicon Valley executive to higher education leader. In the piece, he shares what inspired him to return to West Virginia, some of the steps he took to prepare for the interview process, and what it was like to come home and begin this new journey. Read the full interview by clicking the link below.
LEARN MOREBrad D. Smith Hosts Fireside Chat With Literacy Advocate Dolly Parton
08/23/2022
Aside from her fame as a musician, Dolly Parton has also become renowned for her child literacy project: the Imagination Library. The program gifts participants (children ages birth to 5 years) one free book per month and recently expanded to include all 55 counties in West Virginia. To celebrate the statewide expansion, Brad hosted a fireside chat with Dolly to discuss the inspiration behind her Imagination Library and what it means to be an Appalachia native — a quality that the two have in common. Watch a video of the chat by clicking the link below.
LEARN MOREBrad D. Smith on Wing 2 Wing’s Donation to Fairfield U
06/03/2022
Through their nonprofit organization, the Wing 2 Wing Foundation, Brad D. Smith and his wife Alys recently donated $60,000 to Fairfield U — a mentorship program for children and teens in the Fairfield neighborhood of Huntington. The donation will fund the program for the next two to three years, granting high school students exposure to a variety of professions and industries. In reference to the importance of the work the organization is doing, Brad supplied the following comment: “People need to see themselves in the next opportunity to believe it’s possible.”
LEARN MOREBrad D. Smith Encourages Marshall University Alumni to Pay it Forward
05/27/2022
Since taking office as Marshall University’s President in January 2022, Brad D. Smith has constantly been looking for ways to give back to the Marshall community. In response, on May 13, 2022, the university announced an exciting new initiative titled “Community Cares Week: Giving Back to the Herd.” The program, currently scheduled to take place from June 20–24, encourages all members of the #MarshallUFamily to volunteer their efforts to help improve the campus. “I’m excited to welcome volunteers to return home to our beautiful campus, work side by side and leave the place better than we found it,” Brad said.
LEARN MOREWVU's Gordon Gee and Brad D. Smith Partner to Invest in West Virginia Economy
05/04/2022
In an article from Chamber Magazine, published by the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, West Virginia University President Gordon Gee spoke of the efforts and initiatives toward growing the local community. The article also discussed Gee’s partnership and friendship with Brad D. Smith, and how the two have worked together in their shared goals of developing West Virginia’s economy. Their work together has included a donation by Brad and his wife Alys to WVU to fund the Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative in support of improving the Mountain State. Ascend West Virginia is the remote worker program within the collaborative, which aims to grow the population of young talent in the state.
LEARN MOREBrad D. Smith is Chosen as Marshall University’s 38th President
11/01/2021
During a Marshall University Board of Governors meeting on Thursday, October 28, it was announced that Brad D. Smith has been chosen as the University’s 38th president. Brad accepted the position saying, “As a humble son of Marshall University, I am honored to be selected to serve as the University’s 38th President. This is a privilege of a lifetime and I am looking forward to this journey.”
LEARN MOREBrad D. Smith Discusses Ascend West Virginia on Good Morning America
10/25/2021
On a travel segment of Good Morning America aired on October 22, 2021, Brad D. Smith shared his West Virginia roots and inspiration behind the Ascend West Virginia program. The story covered how the program came to be and featured a number of chosen applicants who discussed their transition to the Mountain State.
LEARN MOREBrad D. Smith is Selected as Finalist for Marshall University Presidency
10/08/2021
On September 30, 2021, Marshall University announced that following a national search, Brad D. Smith has been selected as one of the five finalists being considered for the university’s 38th president. The announcement came from Marshall University’s Board of Governors who shared information on both the search process and the final candidates.
LEARN MOREBrad D. Smith Reflects on Huntington in Celebration of its 150th Anniversary
08/30/2021
On August 27, 2021, Brad D. Smith sat down with the city of Huntington for its 150th anniversary to share some of his favorite memories and reflect on how the Huntington community helped shape him into the person he is today. As Brad states in the interview, “I was a boy from a small hometown who spent 22 years looking for a way out and every day since looking for a way home.”
LEARN MOREBrad D. Smith Discusses The Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative & West Virginia’s Assets
07/01/2021
Brad D. Smith wrote about the Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative (OEDC) and how West Virginia’s unique assets put the state in a great position for growth. Brad highlights important aspects of West Virginia, including the rich culture, the unique people, the natural environment, as well as four defining trends, that will help empower this program. With OEDC, Brad seeks to utilize these factors to redefine West Virginia as the new “Start-Up State.” Brad explains why the time for action is now.
LEARN MOREBrad D. Smith Continues His Conversation with ForbesBooks Radio on “The Resolutionist” Podcast
04/27/2021
Brad D. Smith continued his conversation with Patti and Milledge Hart on “The Resolutionist,” a podcast focused on the Anti-Retirement Movement. In part two of the podcast, Brad talks about how he has taken time to focus more on putting himself first since retiring from his role as CEO of Intuit. He discussed how he and his wife Alys have taken time to see the world through new lenses and how they have redefined how they identify themselves. Listen to Brad’s conversation to learn more about how he is navigating being a resolutionist.
LEARN MOREBrad D. Smith Talks on ForbesBooks Radio “The Resolutionist” Podcast
04/14/2021
A podcast focused on the Anti-Retirement Movement, “The Resolutionist” highlights people that have “retired” with grace and purpose and moved on to various post-career opportunities. Brad joined hosts Patti and Milledge Hart to talk about his journey at Intuit, efforts with the Wing 2 Wing Foundation and three skills Brad sees as critical to success for college graduates, current employees and Resolutionists. Check out the podcast to hear Brad’s thoughts on his post-career journey.
LEARN MOREBeyond the Cloud Event Showcases NOAA’s Data Production Capabilities
03/17/2021 - West Virginia's News
The event, which was separated into four distinct segments, was held to cement the idea that West Virginia has the opportunity to capitalize on the multi-billion dollar private weather industry using NOAA's data and cloud storage. Brad D. Smith participated in the conversation and expressed his enthusiasm surrounding the possibilities for the state to get involved.
LEARN MOREWhy CEOs Should Model Vulnerability
05/11/2020 - Harvard Business Review
Even before the current crisis, CEOs faced a world that was increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous — an environment popularly referred to by the acronym VUCA. Preparing future CEOs to lead in this environment is a challenge for the incumbent CEO, who must create a psychologically safe space for potential successors to reach their full leadership potential in an unforgiving environment. The incumbent’s legacy depends on it.
LEARN MOREMarshall alumni: Where are we now?
04/21/2020 - The Parthenon
Pepsi or The Herald-Dispatch? This was the question Marshall University alumnus Brad D. Smith faced upon graduation in 1986. While Smith studied business administration focusing in marketing, he had always dreamed of being a journalist or a marine biologist.
LEARN MOREBrad D. Smith Business Incubator tenants receive award
04/20/2020 - Marshall University News
Two clients of the Brad D. Smith Business Incubator are winners of the Small Businessperson(s) of the year, as named by the U.S. Small Business Administration for 2020.
LEARN MOREHQ20 Questions: Brad D. Smith
03/03/2020 - Hungtington Quarterly
If you haven’t heard of Brad Smith by now, then you haven’t been following the news. The Kenova native and Marshall University grad rose to prominence a little over 10 years ago when, at the age of just 43, he was named CEO of software giant Intuit.
LEARN MOREMarshall’s Business Incubator Welcomes First Tenants
03/01/2020 - The Herald-Dispatch
Helping small businesses take the next step is what the recently opened Marshall University Brad D. Smith Business Incubator is doing. The business incubator, housed in the Visual Arts Center in the 900 block of 3rd Avenue in downtown Huntington, assists entrepreneurs and business professionals get their ideas and business models off the ground.
LEARN MOREBrad Smith Honored as 2020 AACSB Influential Leader
02/11/2020 - Huntington News
Marshall University alumnus Brad Smith is one of 25 business school graduates honored by AACSB International - the world’s largest business education alliance—as a member of the 2020 Class of Influential Leaders. The annual challenge recognizes notable alumni from AACSB-accredited schools whose inspiring work serves as a model for the next generation of business leaders.
LEARN MOREThree of World’s Top CEOs Offer Insight to Success
02/02/2020 - The Herald-Dispatch
Brad D. Smith, former president and CEO of Intuit who is now executive chairman of the company’s board of directors, joined guest panelists Shantanu Narayen, chairman and CEO of Adobe, and Daniel Schulman, president and CEO of PayPal, onstage for the Lewis College of Business and Brad D. Smith Schools of Business Dean’s Distinguished Speaker Series for the inaugural “CEO Panel.”
LEARN MOREBusinessmen set to lead Brad D. Smith Business Incubator
01/29/2020 - Point Pleasant Register
The Marshall University Brad D. Smith Business Incubator in downtown Huntington is open and ready for business under the direction of two new co-directors who will help entrepreneurs and new businesses develop ideas and business models.
LEARN MOREMU College of Business to Host CEO Panel With Leaders From Nike, Adobe and PayPal
01/22/2020 - The Herald-Dispatch
Marshall University’s Lewis College of Business and its Brad D. Smith Schools of Business will host the inaugural CEO panel of the Dean’s Distinguished Speaker Series at 3 p.m. Feb. 19 in Huntington’s historic Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center on 4th Avenue.
LEARN MOREIntuit’s Approach to Change
08/01/2019 - Upwork
In 2016, the first line of a Fortune article asked, “Why isn’t Intuit dead?” The short answer is because Intuit serially disrupts itself. It’s a practice that only a handful of tech companies, including Amazon and Netflix, inflict upon themselves regularly—and have the skill to do well.
LEARN MORECollege of Business Welcomes New Business Incubator Space
04/19/2019 - The Parthenon
As the Lewis College of Business and Brad D. Smith Schools of Business celebrate 50 years of the college this week, Marshall University welcomes the addition of a new business incubator space.
LEARN MOREMarshall University Receives $25 Million Gift for College of Business
11/08/2018 - WV News
Marshall University President Jerome A. Gilbert today announced alumnus and Intuit Chairman and CEO Brad D. Smith and his wife, Alys Smith, have made a $25 million gift to the university’s Lewis College of Business.
LEARN MOREBold Leader Spotlight: Intuit Chairman and CEO Brad Smith
11/01/2018 - Bold Business
In beginning his journey as the company’s CEO, writing the next chapters of Intuit meant two things—first, reimagine the company’s innovation process, innovate fast, and match the needs of the changing times and trends; second, encouraging design-driven thinking and change technology by bringing in new talents.
LEARN MOREMr. Smith Goes to Silicon Valley
09/27/2018 - Huntington Quarterly
Kenova native Brad Smith may be the president and CEO of software giant Intuit, but he has never forgotten his small town roots in West Virginia.
LEARN MORENordstrom, Inc., Announces Brad Smith as Chairman of Board of Directors
08/29/2018 - Market Watch
"Brad's leadership and extensive experience in the technology industry has proven to be invaluable to Nordstrom," said Phil Satre, current Chairman of the Board for Nordstrom. "As Chairman, we'll continue to leverage his expertise to support the company as it makes progress against its goal to be the leading fashion retailer in today's digital world."
LEARN MOREMomentive (formerly Survey Monkey) Adds Serena Williams and Brad Smith to Board of Directors
05/01/2017 - Spectrum Equity
“Brad’s leadership is highly and widely regarded in the tech industry. Intuit’s value has quadrupled during his tenure,” said Lurie. “Not only did he lead a massive transformation of the company, he built a culture of innovation, experimentation, and design — his mentorship will surely benefit Momentive (formerly Survey Monkey).”
LEARN MOREBrad Smith, Intuit Help Marshall Students Flourish
04/27/2017 - WV Public Broadcasting
The president and CEO of software company Intuit was at Marshall University Wednesday to hear students' proposals for projects that could help some of the challenges West Virginia faces.
LEARN MOREI'm Brad Smith, CEO of Intuit, and This Is How I Work
04/12/2017 - Lifehacker
Brad Smith knows karate. Not “business karate” or any overwrought metaphor about teamwork; he literally teaches karate. Or at least he used to before he became chairman and CEO of Intuit.
LEARN MORE